Hartmark Wins Second Title, Houck Breaks Own Course Record

(Duluth, Minn.) Duluthian Eric Hartmark won tonight’s 39^th annual running of the Park Point 5-Miler with a time of 25 minutes and 16 seconds. The victory for Hartmark, 32, was his second at the event – he also won in 2007 (25:17). 

Duluth’s Jeremy Polson, a five-time winner and defending champion, finished second in 26:09, while Kelly Mortenson, 39, of St. Paul, Minn., placed third in 26:19. 

In the female division, Duluth’s Jen Houck shattered her own course record by 40 seconds, winning with a time of 27:50. Houck, 26, broke the course record in 2009 by running 28:30. The victory was her third consecutive at Park Point. 

Duluth’s Kathleen Monaghan, 42, placed second in 30:24 followed by Duluth’s Marlo McGaver in 32:09. 

A total of 510 runners and 40 walkers registered for the event ― northern Minnesota’s oldest road race. Youth races for children 14 and under accompanied the five-mile run and two-mile walk. 

Net proceeds from the Park Point 5-Miler benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma’s Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics.  

The Park Point 5-Miler is sponsored by 10fold Solutions, Anytime Fitness, City of Duluth, Duluth News Tribune, Duluth Running Company, Fitger’s, Great Harvest Bread, Integrity Health Network, maurices, Minnesota Power, MIX 108, Northland’s NewsCenter, Sam’s Club, St. Luke’s and The Shack Smokehouse and Grille.